Ryder Cup starlet proves Luke Donald was spot on with first PGA Tour win
Question marks were raised around Luke Donald’s decision to pick Ludvig Aberg at the Ryder Cup in Rome, but the Swede continues to prove that the European captain made the right decision
Ludvig Aberg has won his first PGA Tour title at this week’s RSM Classic as he continues to prove Luke Donald’s decision to pick him at this year’s Ryder Cup was the right one.
Aberg only turned professional in June, and in just his 11th PGA Tour event has a victory next to his name. The Swedish star proved untouchable at the RSM Classic, breaking a whole host of records on the way to a dominant five-shot lead in Georgia on Sunday.
The 24-year-old carded back-to-back rounds of 61 across Saturday and Sunday to shoot an astounding 29-under-par for the tournament to get his hands on his maiden PGA Tour title.
For Aberg, his triumph at the Sea Island Seaside Course summed up an incredible five months as a professional. The young player participated in Europe’s winning Ryder Cup squad in Rome last month and has since won on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
After the match, Aberg talked about his incredible ascent and said, “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to put that [his rise] into words.” I want to express my gratitude to many individuals who are dear to me. Without them, it would not have been feasible. Six months is a long time, but it’s been so much fun.
“I still pinch myself in the morning when I wake up to kind of realise that this is what I do for a job. It’s been so much fun. These experiences that I’ve had over the last six months has been beyond my dreams and I’ll never forget it.”
Despite more than making a name for himself, many had questioned Aberg’s call-up to Europe’s Ryder Cup team in September, as a number of other hopefuls missed out. The Swede’s maiden DP World Tour win at the European Omega Masters proved to be a timely one, winning just a day before Donald announced his 12-man team.
Of course, victory in Switzerland would have only cemented captain Donald’s decision to include Aberg 24 hours later. Defending the pick, Donald said pre-Ryder Cup: “I really do have a lot of faith and belief in Ludvig. He is a generational player, he’s going to be around a long time and he’s going to do amazing things.
“In the event that he won’t play this one he planned to play the following eight Ryder Cups, that is the means by which great I think he is.” Obviously the European captain caused a commotion with Aberg’s determination, however on the rear of a noteworthy presentation and presently a PGA Visit win, the Swede has more than supported up Donald’s choice.
In the consequence of Aberg’s success, Donald was loaded with prize for his Ryder Cup bet. “Anybody focusing knew the limitless capability of Ludvig,” he tweeted. “He showed that at Crans and presently again ruling in Ocean Island this week. Congrats to you, Jack and your entire group, anything is possible.”